A New Era of Play at Matt’s Pickle & Padel
As Matt’s Pickle & Padel continues to grow, one goal remains at the center of everything we do:
Better games. Better competition. Better experience for everyone.
To deliver on that promise, we’re introducing a new rating and structured play system designed to elevate the level of play across the club and ensure every player steps onto the court with the right competition.
Why This Change Matters
Until now, players have been grouped into three broad categories: Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced. While simple, this structure often led to:
Mismatched games
Frustrating play experiences
Slower player development
As our community has grown, it’s become clear that a more refined system is needed—one that creates balanced matchups, supports improvement, and aligns with national standards.
Introducing the NRP Rating System
We’re moving to a 4-tier club rating system (NRP) that more accurately reflects skill levels:
Beginner (2.5 – 2.99): Learning fundamentals
Intermediate (3.0 – 3.29): Consistent basic play
Advanced Intermediate (3.3 – 3.69): Developing strategy & control
Advanced (3.7+): High-level competitive play
This new structure will be the foundation for all structured programming, including round robins, leagues, and DUPR events.
The result: more competitive matches, clearer development pathways, and a more organized club experience.
How You’ll Receive Your Rating
Players can qualify for an NRP rating in three ways:
1. DUPR Rating (Preferred)
We use Dynamic Universal Pickleball Rating (DUPR), the national rating system for pickleball.
Requires at least 60% reliability
Updated regularly based on match results
2. Tournament Results
Strong tournament performance can also qualify you:
3.0 → Intermediate
3.5 → Advanced Intermediate
4.0+ → Advanced
(Subject to minimum event size and coaching discretion)
3. “Test Up” Sessions
No rating yet? No problem.
Starting April 20, 2026, players can participate in structured evaluation sessions:
Small-group, level-specific assessments
Filmed and reviewed by coaching staff
Standardized evaluation criteria
You’ll either:
Qualify for the level, or
Receive clear feedback and next steps to improve
New to DUPR? We’ve Got You Covered
If you don’t yet have a DUPR rating, you can receive a provisional rating through a Test Up session.
This gives you:
A strong starting point
Better initial match placement
A faster path to an accurate official rating
Important Opportunity: DUPR Reset
From March 16 to May 17, 2026, DUPR is offering a rating reset window.
This allows players to:
Start fresh
Improve rating accuracy
Eliminate outdated results
If you’re unhappy with your current rating, this is a valuable opportunity to reset and rebuild.
What This Means for You
As we transition to the new system:
Your level may change (up or down)
All players will be placed into appropriate groups by May 20, 2026
Structured programming will become more competitive and consistent
Most importantly—this system is built to help you improve.
If you don’t qualify for a level right away, we’ll provide:
Personalized feedback
Development plans
Access to clinics, lessons, and film analysis
What You Need to Do
To get started:
Submit your rating form with your current DUPR and/or tournament results
If needed, sign up for a Test Up session
Take advantage of the DUPR Reset window if applicable
Final Thoughts
This change is about one thing:
Creating the best possible playing environment for every member.
Better games.
Better competition.
Better development.
Better experience.
We appreciate your patience and support as we roll this out, and we’re excited to build something even stronger together at Matt’s.
